Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Hi Folks,

I was just wondering why do we still have some channels being broadcast in both SD and HD on cable?

I though everyone on Virgin Media must have a TV that supports HD?....

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

It depends on the package you are on whether you get the HD version or not.

The 360 boxes remove one or the other depending on what package you are subscribed to.

eg Sky Showcase SD is on lower packs where HD is on Maxit

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

I have several neighbours who don't have HD-capable sets.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Very doubtful

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Everyone who has TV Services via Virgin Media has a box that supports HD, they don't however need a TV that displays it. Original Tivo boxes have SCART as an option and downscale the picture to output via it if you choose to connect to a television using that type of cable.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

I think it's because currently it's only possible to watch some regional news in standard definition

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

You thought wrong. ;)

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

I had the Telewest TVDrive 15 years ago and it downscaled BBC HD quite happily to my CRT TV, surely the newer boxes do the same? I can't imagine there are any SD boxes left on the VM network now?

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Thank you for the replies I wrongly assumed every VM customer must have the VM V6 box as a minimum therefore are using a HDMI Connection....

I just find it slightly odd that in terms of changing channels to HD on Cable and Freeview things appear to be going at a snails pace. is this probably due to the bandwidth required?

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

There are no SD-only boxes on VM, haven't been for a while now.

Only the Original VM Tivo has a SCART, all the other models currently supplied by VM only have HDMI output (there are other outputs but they are disabled), so are basically for HD TVs only (unless you get your own converter device/cable).

I've not have my morning coffee, so I await someone pointing out I've got something misremembered somewhere. :D

---------- Post added at 09:51 ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 ----------

V6 has basically been the minimum for a while, but TV-Only Customers, still had Original VM Tivo as it doesn't require you to be a Broadband Customer since it has a built-in dedicated internet connection.

Freeview's snail pace is a combination of lack of space and legacy installed equipment, there's (proportionally) a lot of SD-Only Freeview equipment still in use, broadcasters on Digital Terrestrial don't want to lose those viewers, it's the largest platform.

An example: On 1st July 2021 5Select (though it remained SD) moved to a transmission that only works on HD-capable Freeview devices, though had 8% more UK population coverage. Despite it also being available on other platforms like VM, Sky and Freesat, 5Select ratings went down approx 28% in its first few weeks, and they've never fully recovered, they are still 20% down. Those ratings figures are for all platforms, so the Freeview proportion must be bigger and demonstrates the installbase without the required HD equipment.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

My mum has BB but when I ask to change from TiVo to V6 they want to charge more. They replaced like for like sadly when her old box was slowing down to a crawl.

Yes no new TV and BB customer will get a TiVo but legacy treated differently.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

That surprises me, the service charge for Tivo was the same for Original and V6 to my recollection when we changed, we wouldn't have otherwise. There was a one-off charge, it wasn't for an engineer as it was sent in post and installed by myself.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

I think it down to broadcaster if both SD and HD are carry by Virgin Media.

Drop SD:
Discovery
BBC
Sky Cinema
BT Sport
A&E
STV

HD comes before SD:
Sky Basic
Sky Sports
ViacomCBS
ITV (Channel 3)
UTV
GOLD (UKTV's)

TV360 broadcasts only HD Channels and drop their SD Channel - if it have a HD Channel.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Service charge is the same, but it doesn't mean that a TV + BB bundle price is the same between the two.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

MB, I'm not sure why you quoted me, I was responding to a comment about boxes rather than channels with the bit you quoted.

---------- Post added at 17:54 ---------- Previous post was at 17:53 ----------

Fair enough. I was just going by recollection the bill break down rather than bundle discount.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Did notice this evening that although it’s now on BBC1HD, my regional news is still only broadcast in SD.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Nearly all (except around 2-3) are still SD as the regions are not ready yet.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

I thought that, although the picture appears slightly improved from before on my TV.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

It's four regions can do proper HD at the moment, the rest are upscaled to for the HD channel

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

We've lost BBC HD on 108.


101 is now HD and the regional news is in HD

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Only in four BBC regions. Elsewhere they're still in SD (as that's the broadcast capability of the BBC regional studio) but upscaled on the HD channel.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

It gets worse, the latest post on TLF say that the Cambridge studio was installed in 2009 and is actually SD not HD. So that just leaves London, Salford and Plymouth studios as HD capable. Unlike the CCM / opting upgrades that have made the HD regions possible, the studio upgrades will be tied to CapEx investment and renewals schedules.

Thats nice that they dont force HD crap. Over here I think cable copanies ONLY OFFER HD which to me isnt as good... I prefer SD like I always have...

One time I watched some HD channels on an SD TV and they looked good (IN SD) I wouldnt wanna see them in true HD though....


Its ok,every1 likes different things right??

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Do you wear glasses?

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Well there is a first time for everything and you are the first person I’ve ever heard (or read) saying they prefer lower quality picture.

IMHO some of the SD channels look awful and most of them are compressed so badly they look worse than analogue services over 25 years ago. The music channels in particular.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

We still use a Panasonic 37" Plasma TV (720p HD ready) perfectly good enough for the things viewed on it, can't tell the difference between stuff in SD or HD.

Others however, who probably plumped for a 65" TV with 1980 x 1080 resolution may get different results. ;)

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Probably not, but he obviously needs them;)

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

1980 x 1080? How dated! :p:

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

You mean they don't exist? :shocked: :D

You know what I meant though, a large cheapo TV with crap resolution/screen type/hardware won't perform well no matter what you throw at it ;)

Yup Mate I do,if I take them off thigns are blurry kinda......

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Some SD channels are as bad a VHS quality, and these are programmes that came long after VHS.

I guess they must-use some compression and that removes the quality.

It is like looking through a net curtain, flick to had channel, and you can almost see the "cut" on the actors face looks like a plaster.

I think VHS quality is goregous,especially on a CRT.....

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Not as good as betamax...

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Not much in it for consumer versions
- https://youtu.be/_oJs8-I9WtA

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

I prefer hieroglyphics on clay myself, for the OG graphics…

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

To be fair those comparisons are for NTSC which never approached the quality of PAL. Hmmm! these comparisons of out of date technologies could become the new trend. ;)

---------- Post added at 16:54 ---------- Previous post was at 16:53 ----------

Who needs 8K when we have clay...

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Was told that v2000 was the best ,never seen one though :erm:

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Debatable. The main players were continually developing new and improved features, playing leapfrog with the v2000. Many of the proposed v2000 features never made it to production models. Double sided video tapes were quirky and the machines were relatively expensive. Its main problem though, as you have suggested, was that most people had never seen one.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Techmoan has a video on that ;)

https://youtu.be/SeSz6MoX00Q

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

I used one in the mid 80's for a while. The tapes produced were subjectively superior to later VHS tapes I could compare them with, of course that may have been down partly to the quality of the tapes and the input source, I can't really remember. I do know they were complicated to use, especially without an instruction manual.

Re: Why are there still SD Channels and HD Channels?
 

Did they use VHS or Betamax for that video? ;)